Accused stepfather arraigned

STOCKTON - The stepfather of a 10-year-old boy who suffered multiple stab wounds was arraigned Tuesday on suspicion of attempted murder.

Jennie Rodriguez-Moore

STOCKTON - The stepfather of a 10-year-old boy who suffered multiple stab wounds was arraigned Tuesday on suspicion of attempted murder.

Lope O. Charvet, 53, was escorted into court for a brief hearing, where he tried to plead no contest to trying to kill his stepson.

Judge William Johnson did not accept the plea because it is a complicated case and advised Charvet to first consult with his attorney.

The boy's father, local attorney Douglas Srulowitz, said his son is in stable condition at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento, recovering from stab wounds to his chest and defensive wounds to his arms and hands.

"He has been on a ventilator since surgery, and today we were told that he was probably going to be taken off the ventilator," Srulowitz said.

Srulowitz said his son is lucid and communicating by writing notes. The boy is eager to have the breathing tube taken out.

"One of his little friends brought him a stuffed dog because he has a little Chihuahua we adopted from the animal shelter whose name is Penny," Srulowitz said. Ever since, his son sleeps holding the stuffed dog.

"It's really cute, and it's heartwarming," Srulowitz said.

Because he is a minor, the child is identified in court documents with a fictitious name. His parents have opted not to disclose his identity unless he wishes to do so after making a full recovery.

A Stockton police officer responding to a call Saturday found the boy bleeding in the arms of his uncle in the living room of the family residence in the 3200 block of Autumn Chase Circle.

The officer grabbed the child and took him outside to receive medical attention, as medics were unable to enter the still-active crime scene. Charvet had barricaded himself in an upstairs bedroom with a knife, police said.

Prosecutors have not released a possible motive, but Srulowitz theorizes Charvet wanted to hurt the boy's mother by harming her child.

"I saw his wounds for the first time today," Srulowitz said. His son endured three to four major injuries to his chest, Srulowitz said.

"That's why they believe it was probably an attempt to kill him," he said.

There had been no indication that Charvet was a danger to the child, according to Srulowitz.

From what Srulowitz knows, based on conversations with his son, Charvet is a Navy veteran who was attending classes at San Joaquin Delta College to become a police officer.

Interactions and custody exchanges between the parents have been cordial, Srulowitz said. The child indicated Charvet was nice, and the boy was open about communicating to his father any concerns that seemed "questionable."

"Nothing that I thought was so alarming," Srulowitz said. "So this was a complete surprise to me."

Srulowitz said he is thankful to Stockton police and the surgeons who treated his son at San Joaquin General Hospital. He also expressed gratitude to those in the community who have offered support.

Srulowitz said he has passed on the well wishes to his son.

"It's funny, 'cause when I tell him something he likes to hear, he gives me the thumbs up, because he can't speak right now," Srulowitz said.

Charvet, also charged with enhancements of inflicting great bodily injury and use of a non-firearm weapon, is facing a possible life term in prison, Deputy District Attorney Robert Himelblau said.

The court has set bail at $1.1 million. Charvet is expected to return for further arraignment Feb. 21.

Contact reporter Jennie Rodriguez-Moore at (209) 943-8564 or jrodriguez@recordnet.com. Follow her at recordnet.com/courtsblog and on Twitter @TheRecordCourts.